Foundation garment



April 1960 M. M. CHUBBY 2,932,298

' FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed March 4, 1958 INVENT OR.

2,932,298 FOUNDATION GARMENT Marion M. Chubby, Chicago, Ill., assignor to A. Stein & Company, a corporation of Illinois Application March 4, 1958, Serial No. 719,042

' 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-541) This invention relates generally to foundation garments and is more particularly directed to an improved form of girdle, pantie girdle, corset or the like.

It is, of course, the purpose of a girdle or the like to so control the contours of the body to present a smooth appearance, while providing maximum comfort and freedom of body movement. Further, it is generally true that the most difficult task of contour control through means of a girdle or the like is in connection with the abdomen and the buttocks, and various and numerous ways and means of applying flattening or smoothing pressure to these portions of the anatomy have been tried. The present invention is particularly directed to a girdle arrangement affording a novel and very effective manner of applying the proper smoothing forces 'on the body, particularly at the front and rear in the areas mentioned.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved foundation garment which affords proper control of the body contours while providing maximum comfort and freedom. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel girdle arrangement comprising generally transverse panel sections, wherein an upper panel section of elastic fabric which is substantially non-stretchable lengthwise of the girdle but is stretchable in a transverse direction, is cut on a bias and joined with a lower panel section of two-way stretchable fabric. Still another object is to provide a girdle or the like comprising'a plurality of generally transverse panel sections, wherein an intermediate panel section of elastic fabric, which is substantially non-stretchable lengthwise of the garment and stretchable in a transverse direction, is arranged on a bias to extend from approximately the center of the garment at the front upwardly over the hips and thendownwardly to a the rear of the and upward pull position approximately at the center of garment, to thereby provide aninward at the front and rear of the garment.

Other objects and advantages will be noted with respect to the accompanying description, and with respect to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view bodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the girdle shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a view of the panels forming the garment in the preceding figures, disposed in planar relation to of a girdle showing one emited States a en a two-way stretchable fabric, such as knitted or woven elastic material which includes warp threads disposed to provide stretch for said panels primarily circumferentially of the garment but which also affords some degree of stretchability in all directions. A suitable waist band 18, preferably of material which is stretchable circumferentially along the length of the Waist band, is secured, as by a double row of stitching 20, to the insideupper edge of the panel 12, and a similar form of leg band 22 is secured, as by stitching 24, to the lower edge of 'the panel'16. The waist band 18-and the leg band 2 2 are preferably of sufiicient widthand rigidity to resist folding and wrinkling. 'A suitable material for these bands plies of textile fabric is onecomprising inner and outer material having a soft and nappy outer surface and p bonded together by an interbening ply of permanently flexible rubber or rubber-like material.

The upper and lower panel sections 12 and 16 are cut on a bias at their inner or facing edges to provide -shaped inner edge portions, front and rear, and the intermediate panel 14, is also cut on a bias to present a and is secured in position between panel sections 12 and 16. As illustrated particularly in Figure 3, each of the three panel sections of the girdle 1t) comprises two portions which are joined together, as by suitable stitching 26 and 26a,along vertical lines at the center ofthe front and back, respectively, of the garment. Thus, the bias cut edge of each panel section extends upwardly from the center o'fthe girdle, both front and rear, toward the side thereof;

The intermediate panel 14 is preferably made of an elastic fabric having warp threads disposed to provide greater resistance to tension than the upper and lower panels and, in this connection, a satin elastic material, such as Satin Lastex, a product of the U8. Rubber 7 Co., has been found to bevery satisfactory. The panel 14 is substantially non-stretchable vertically of the garment, i.e, in a direction parallel to the seams 26, 26a. The intermediate panel 14 overlaps the inner face of the adjoining panels along the edges thereof a rather substantial amount, preferably from about inch to 1% inches, and double rows of stitching 28 and 30 join the better illustrate the mode of construction of the garment.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a pantie girdle showing another embodiment of 'the invention.

With reference to Figure 1, it is seen that the selected 16, respectively, of the girdle 10 are preferably madeof tions. Consequently,

panels together in a manner which provides no outer seams or ridges;

As noted in the drawings, the center or intermediate panel 14 is disposed primarily in the upper half of the garment at the front but extends downwardly substantially below the'tr'ansverse center line of the garment in the rear. This disposition of the less stretchable fabric comprising the center panel conforms with the position of those body portions requiring the most support or control. Further, the relatively longer section of the lower panel 16 thereby resulting at the front of the garment affords freedom of movement of the legs.

The described shaping of the intermediate panel 14 provides, in effect'a point or localized area in the center front and center back of the garment comprising focal or pull points for the application of inward pressure created by the relatively less yieldable fabric of the intermediate panel 14, which pressure extends over the area of the panel 14 in a generally diagonally upward direction from those focal of the garment. This inwardly and upwardly directed pull is, at least in part, the reaction of the bias cut elastic material to the lateral or transverse forces on the girdle as it is stretched over the body of the wearer. Since the center panel 14 is joined along the lines 26 and 26a at the center front and rear, respectively, a greater portion of the diagonally directed tension forces arealso concentrated at these less yieldable center posithe greatest degree of control is provided where it is most needed, that is, in the center Patented Apr; 12,1960

points toward the opposite sides of the abdomenand over thebuttoclrs at the centerrear. This action of the garment provides a flattening of the stomach and buttocks, to thereby present a most effective control of the contours in these areas.

It is also particularly noteworthy that the advantageous action. ofthe described. garment. is accomplished without requiring any zipper-opening or the like forthe garment. Thus, the entire garment presents a smooth appearance, while affording a novel type of control which was particularly absent in prior foundation garments. In this connection, it isbelieved preferable to make the waistline band 18 of somewhat more elastic fabric. than the fabric used in the upper and lower; panelsv 1 2 and 16,: in order to reduce the grip atfthe waistline to facilitate putting. on the girdle; Itshould also be noted-that the grip at the waistline is. not of primary importance in retaining the girdle inits proper positiori The-substantial overlapping of. the. edges of the upper. and lower panels 12 and 16.with. respect to the inner face of the intermediate panel 14 produces a pair of spaced-apart curving portions of increased thickness which serve to hold the girdle at the right places and, in part, reduce the need for the gripping effect usually required at the Waistband and the leg band. The inwardly facing marginal portions of the upper and lower panels provided between the rows of stitching 28 and 30 extend upwardly over the hips in approximate location above andbelow-f the hip bone, and thereby hold the garment in place without discomfort to the wearer.

In Figure 4 there isillustrated another'embodiment' wherein the principles of the invention are utilized; in connection with apantie girdle 40. Generally, the construction and disposition of the; panels 42, 44 and 46 in the girdle is the same as described above with respect to the embodiment of Figures 1-3 and provides similar advantages. The lowersection 46 of the pantie girdle 40 is, of course, made longer to include the separate leg sections 46a and 46b and to accommodate the addition of a crotch piece 48; preferablyin the manner described in my US. Patent 2,705,801; The application of pressures due to the disposition and shaping of the girdle panels is as previously described, with the intermediate panel 44being especially effective in creating a diagonally directed pull, inwardly and upwardly, from the center, front and rear, toward and over thehips'of' thewearer.

Although shown and described with'respect to'particular materials and embodiments, it will be apparent that other materials and modifications of the'illustrated garments mightbe made without departing from the principles of this invention. For example, the'elimination; of-the upper section 12 in Fig. 1 orsection' 42 in Figl4 and the extension of the sections 14 -or 44 respectively, to include the waistband-portion of the garment will provide a garment offering certain of the advantages pointed out above.

I claim:

1. A foundation garment in the form of a multiple-, panel tubular construction with said panels joined together circumferentially and comprising, an upper panel of elastic fabric which is substantially non-stretchable lengthwise of said garment, and a lower panel of twoway stretchable elastic fabric, said upper panel being arranged on a bias and extending from approximately the center of the garment at the front thereof to an upper portion of the garment at each side thereof and then downwardly to a position approximately at thef'center of the garment at the rear thereof, and said lower panel. being also cut on a bias along its upper edge and over lapping the adjoining edge of said'upper-panel a substan tial amount to provide therewith a two-ply sectionwhich' extends from the centerof the garmentat thefront thereof to an upperportion of the garment at each side thereofand then downwardly .to a position approximately at thecenterof the garment at the rear thereof.

2. A girdle in the.for er amnltiple-panel, continuous? tubular construction including two sections joined together along the longitudinal center line at the front and rear, respectively, of the girdle, each of said sections comprising an upper and a lower panel, each of elastic knitted fabric having elastic warp threads disposed to provide stretch for the fabric transversely of said girdle, and each of said sections includingan intermediate panel of elastic fabric which is substantially nonstretchable lengthwise of said girdle, said intermediate panel being arranged on a bias and extending diagonally from each of said longitudinal center lines at a position approximately at the center of the girdle upwardly to a position at the side of .the girdle, whereby said intermediate panel exerts a pull inwardly and upwardly of said girdle from a position approximately at the center of the girdle, front and rear, and toward the opposite sides of said girdle, and said upper and lower panels overlapping said intermediate panela substantial amount al ongthe upper and lower edges thereof to provide a two-ply portion of substantial width at said edges.

3. A girdle in the form of a multiple-panel, continuous tubularconstruction including two sections joined together along the longitudinal center line at the front and rear, respectively, of said girdle, each of said sections comprising an upper and a lower panel, each of elastic fabric having elastic warp threads disposedto provide two-way stretch for said fabric, and each of said sections including an intermediate panel of relatively less elastic fabric which is stretchable pr marily in a transverse direction and which is substantially non-stretchable lengthwise of said girdle, said upper and lower panels being cut on a bias at their facing edge portions so that said edge portions extend diagonally from each of said center lines upwardly toward the side of saidgirdle, and said intermediate panel being arranged on a bias and joined with said facing edge portions of said upper and lower panels along wide marginal portions thereof, so that said intermediate panel extends diagonally from each of said vertical center lines at a position approximately at the center of said girdle upwardly to a position at the side of the girdle, whereby said intermediate panel, when stretched, exerts'a pull inwardly and upwardly of said girdle from a position approximately at the center of the girdle, front and rear, toward the opposite sides of the girdle, and a waistband joined with said upper panel along its upper edge and being of greater elasticity than said upper panel to facilitate entry into the girdle.

4. A pantie girdlecomprising an upper'panel of elastic fabric having elastic warp threads disposed to provide twoway stretch for said fabric, an intermediate panel of elastic fabric which is stretchable primarily in a transverse direction and which is substantially non-stretchable lengthwise of said girdle, a pair of leg sections of two-way stretchable fabric, said intermediate panel being arranged on a bias and joined with overlapping edge portions of said upper panel and said leg sections, respectively, so as to extend diagonally from a position approximately at the center of the front of said girdle upwardly to a position atthe side of the girdle and then downwardly to a position at the center-of-the rear ofsaid girdle, whereby said intermediate panel, when stretched, exerts a pull inwardly and upwardly of said girdle from a position approximately at the center of the girdle, front and rear, toward the opposite sides of the girdle, and said leg sections being provided with a crotch piece extending from positions adjacent thedower center portions of said intermediate panel, front and rear, to positions along the inner portion of each of said leg sections spaced inwardly of the lower edge thereof,

5. A foundation 'garmentin the form of a multiplepaneltubular construction with said panels joined together circumferentially and comprising an upper panel and a lower panel, said lower panel'being of two-way stretchable elastic fabric, said upper panel being stretchableto-a lesser extent than said lower panel to provide greater tension on the body of the wearer in the area covered by said upper panel, said upper panelhaving its lower edge out on a bias and extending from approximately the center of the garment at the front thereof to an upper portion of the garment at each side thereof and then downwardly to a position approximately at the center of the garment at the rear thereof, said lower panel also being cut on a bias along its upper edge and being connected to the lower edge of said upper panel, said connection extending from approximately the center of the garment at the front thereof to an upper portion of the garment at each side thereof and then downwardly to a position approximately at the center of the garment at the rear thereof.

6. A foundation garment in the form of a multiplepanel tubular construction with said panels joined together circumferentially and comprising an upper and a lower panel each of two-way stretchable elastic fabric, and an intermediate panel of elastic fabric which is substantially non-stretchable lengthwise of said garment, said intermediate panel having its lower edge out on a bias and extending from approximately the center of the garment at the front thereof to an upper portion of the garment at each side thereof and then downwardly to a position approximately at the center of the garment at the rear thereof, said lower panel also being cut on a bias along its upper edge and being connected with the lower edge of said intermediate panel, said connection extending from approximately the center of the garment at the front thereof to an upper portion of the garment at each side thereof and then downwardly to a position approximately at the center of the garment at the rear thereof.

7. A foundation garment in the form of a multiplepanel tubular construction with said panels joined together circumferentially and comprising an upper and a lower panel each of two-way stretchable elastic fabric, and an intermediate panel of elastic fabric which is substantially non-stretchable lenghtwise'of said garment, each of said panels comprising two sections which are joined together along the longitudinal centerline of said garment at the front and at the rear, said intermediate panel having its lower edge out on a bias, and extending from approximately the center of the garment at the front thereof to an upper portion of the garment at each side thereof and then downwardly to a position approximately at the center of the garment at the rear thereof, and said lower panel also being 'cut on a bias along its upper edge and being connected with the lower edge of said intermediate panel, said connection extending from approximately the center of the garment at the front thereof to an upper portion of the garment at each side thereof and then downwardly to a position approximately at the center of the garment at the rear thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,218,747 Gagnon Oct. 22, 1940 2,304,812 Goldstein Dec. 15, 1942 2,563,308 Chase et a1. Aug. 7, 1951 2,655,658 Connors Oct. 20, 1953 2,705,801 Chubby Apr. 12, 1955 2,803,822 Doyle Aug. 27, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 204,278 Australia Nov. 8. 1956 

